Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1887-01-27


some other who may have gotten in by the
Skin of his teeth" There is the delegate
in the Legislature from Marion,-a Demo
crat elected by six majority, only-yet he
received as many Democratic votes in that
county as Hon. VIM. L. Wilson, did in this
county, whose majority in this county was
more than a thousand. The Democratic
candidates in Berkeley received nearly as
many votes and yet were not elected. 1t is
the aggregate Democratic vote in the State
that counts in State affairs, and not the
majority in any particular locality. Take
this view of it, and you will find that the
thirty seven Democrats participating in the
Democratic caucus represented many thou
sands of Democrats, and it will not do for
Jefferson or Hampshire, because they have
many Democrats and comparatively few
Republicans, to antagonize the balance Of
the State. If>Jefferson, for instance, wants
anything at the hands of the State it gets
it by a majority of the votes of the delegates
of all the State, the majority here big or
little, counting for nothing. 1t is the vote,
not the majority that counts in a Conven-
ton We advance this view of the case be-
cause Jefferson ma! want something-may
have a right to it, but might not get it if
persistent in antagonizing the balance Of
the State
Let us illustrate the matter. A jefferson
man might have aspirations Tor the guberna-
torial chair; or his friends may be looking
to such prize for him What claim would
such a man have upon the party at large,
represented in nominating convention
(which is party caucus if he refused the
right of the majCrity-aye three-fourths Of
it to make nomination at all Referring
to those who refused to participate in the
Democratic caucus for the nomination of a
candidate for Senator the Fairmont hder
says:
We take the broad ground that the ma
iority must rule in this instance as well as
in all others of political character, and
the thirteen Democratic gentlemen who saw
fit not to 90 into the caucus at Charleston
are in honor bound to acquiesce in and
abide by the expressed will of the majority
OF that caucus We go further, and say
that if every Democratic constituent OF these
gentlemen was opposed to Mr. Camden,
they would have no right now to oppose the
majority Of the party in this State and with
hold support from him. The defeat of Mr..
Camden by trcachery to the party would
mean almost certain disruption and desiruc-
ton of the party's organization, and make
easy Republican success in 1888. VIII these
members OF the Legislature, who were them
selves nominated by Democratic c0nven-
tons and elected 10y loyal Democratic vo-
ters. attempt 70 CRAFTY their personal pref
erences and animosities at the cost of sac
rificing the party which for the time being
they represent? No man who refuses to sub
nit to the will Of the majority can hope to
retain his party standing II these gentle
men hold cut and permit the choice of the
party to be defeated, they will have to bear
the responsibility. The party will not hold
them guiltless and their sins will not be
forgotten.
The lKst Virginia Democrat finds fault
with Senators Camden and Kenna for not
being present in the Senate to vote for the
Interstate Commerce Bill, although it
knew that they had done all they could to
assure its passage, and were paired with
Senators opposed to the bill. The DemO-
crat says:
"The West Virginia Senators were abb
sent. They should have been present on
an occasion so important as this. They
would have been present were II not that
they regard their own political fortunes as
paramount to the public welfare. 1t is in
the power of the Legislature to give this
State Senator who can be relied on to be
present at his post of duty. standing in the
front ranks fighting for the rights of the
people on an occasion such as that OF last
Friday"
1t didn't suit the Democrat to ceusure
Senators Maxey or Voorhees,, who were also
absent, nor will it reflect upon Judge Rea-
gan. who was absent from the House when
the bill passed that body.
Referring to Judge Reagan's absence the
Washington correspondent Of the Richmond
State writes
Judge Reagan would have received a
roval ovation on the floor had he been here
Just after the vote to-day; but the venera'
BILE statesman is down in the Lone Star
State looking after his chances for the SEN
atorship. Should he succeed the House
will regret his departure from that body to
90 to the other wing of the Capitol. lie
will make useful senator if he Is chosen,
although he is not a frstrate orator He Is
an encyclopedia, though and his long leg
islatiye experience would enable him to
take front seat in the Senate"
So far as we are informed Judge Reagan
did not. like Senators Camden and Kenna,
take the precaution to secure a pair"
VIII the Democrat say in its next issue:
Judge Reagan would have been present
were it not that he regards his own politi-
cal fortunes as paramount to the public
welfare. 1t is in the power Of the Legisla-
ture of Texas to give that State Senator
who can be relied on to be present at his
post of duty" &c. &C.? Will the Democrat
say that?
In the Spirit Of Jefferson of November
Ind 1886. we find the following editorial
paragraph:
.sL1i,,L. Cor ,.our norsonal preference with